KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Most U.S. Employers to Increase Salaries

Employers aren't doing a lot of hiring right now, but they are trying to hold on to their best workers. And they're willing to pay to keep them.

A new report out today says nearly all of the 1,200 U-S employers polled said they plan to increase workers' salaries in 2012. The survey was done by Mercer, a human resources consulting firm.

Half of the businesses that plan to hike pay said they plan to do so in order to retain top talent.

Although available jobs remain scarce, Mercer says if you are a top performer in a critical role, you are still valuable in the marketplace.

Top-performing employees make up just eight-percent of the workforce.